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We learned a lot about Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe and the Milwaukee Bucks, as they completely lost control of their series against the Toronto Raptors. What we have learned is really what they did not learn: how to finish wounded prey.
Toronto was down from 0 to 2 a week ago and was short of options. Kawhi Leonard was limping. Pascal Siakam was not quite himself. Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol and the Toronto bench were not reliable every night. Milwaukee had a chance to win the third game, which was extended. But Giannis could not get his attack with Kawhi and all the Raptors watching each of his movements. And Kawhi got 36 points in the slugfest victory.
Two more fierce victories later, the Raptors are about to qualify for the NBA Finals for the very first time.
This will not be the first time for Kawhi, however, and as cliche as it may sound, the fact that it at That's why he's about to go back. This is what Kawhi took to the Spurs: resilience, cold, patience.
Kawhi won the final player title in the final in 2014 when the Spurs were smoking the Heat. For Kawhi, this is the third time that this is a long playoff series: the Spurs went to the final the previous year and qualified for the Western Conference final at the rookie season of Kawhi. His experience naturally grew and he did not have to show the way until he was ready for the third year. He learned at the feet of Gregg Popovich, who had already won four championships before Leonard's arrival. He had known champions Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker around him. Everyone knew what to do in critical moments in bright light in front of turbulent or muffled crowds. They had been there before and that was to make it easier for Kawhi (and his partner from time to time, Danny Green, too).
It did not always work. The Spurs failed to win in the seventh game of the 2013 final, for example, or in this epic first-round series against the Clippers in 2015. Sometimes the other team is simply better or more lucky. But even in defeat, the experience of being there counts. This concerns you. You learn from that.
Kawhi has learned many high pressure situations during his career. Giannis and the other Bucks stars do not have any.
This is the first time Milwaukee has played in the playoffs of the Giannis era. That they have arrived there is incredible. It's an amazing learning experience for Antetokounmpo, Middleton, Bledsoe and Malcolm Brogdon, even if they lose on Saturday or in a first leg match. moment.
Consider the bow of pre-KD warriors. We imagine them as a fully formed superpower that has stormed the spotlight without ever looking back. But their title race in 2015 was preceded by two more playoffs: a first-round loss to the Clippers in the infamous Donald Sterling saga and a second-round defeat against the Spurs in 2014. Steph Curry and Klay Thompson been tested in the crucibles and taught them something ephemeral. They applied these lessons in 2015 and beyond. (In addition, the coach was modernized, Draymond Green was released and the front desk added veteran parts around them.)
We saw something similar with the Denver Nuggets in the playoffs: for all but Paul Millsap, being in high pressure NBA games with real stakes was a new experience. Sometimes the young Nuggets overcame this to defeat the Spurs and then the Blazers. But in the end, they could not finish the job against Portland (who had a little more experience). Next year and beyond, Denver will be better off for the experience lived this year. The same goes for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Kawhi has been there. Danny Green has been there. Kyle Lowry has been there. Marc Gasol has been there. Serge Ibaka has been there. Experience is not everything, but it is something and it seems to make a difference in magical moments with the ultra-close series online. You can see the difference by watching Kawhi quietly run his critical possessions (whether or not he enters), while Giannis and the Bucks become a little volatile, a little disorganized, a little panicked. It is the differential of experience. And sometimes it's the only separation a superstar needs.
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